President Joe Biden is in the final day of his trip to Ireland, where he has visited a Roman Catholic pilgrimage site and will likely see his visit to North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centre’s Family History Research Unit overshadowed by the leak case. He is also scheduled to deliver remarks at Saint Muredach's Cathedral before returning to the U.S. by way of Dublin.
Biden's three-day trip included visits to various sites significant for Irish-American history, as well as celebrating his own ancestral connections with half of the 46 US presidents who have visited Ireland while in office having Irish roots. This visit aimed at telling the story of 'Blue-collar Joe' back home, but some incidents during this journey sparked controversies.
The president faced accusations related to an "anti-British" snub after displaying the Irish flag on his limousine in Dublin but not doing so for Union Jack in Belfast. Former DUP leader Baroness Foster expressed concern over President Biden's neutrality regarding tensions between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The White House had to issue a correction following Mr. Biden's comments about "the Black and Tans" during a pub visit in County Louth.
Senior Tories criticized Amanda Sloat, a senior foreign affairs adviser for President Biden, regarding articles she wrote prior to her current job that suggested demographic changes could cause disintegration within the UK. Ms Sloat denied allegations from former Northern Ireland First Minister that President Biden is anti-UK; however, Lord Frost questioned advice received by Rishi Sunak from President Biden throughout last week.
On his final day visiting Knock Shrine—his late son Beau's place of worship—President Joe met Father Frank O’Grady who read last rites for Beau when he passed away six years ago (2015). Alongside family members including sister Valerie Owens & cousin Laurita Blewitt—the president also visited Mayo Roscommon Hospice before continuing on picturesque town Ballina, which proudly displayed US flags & red-white-blue bunting as locals eagerly awaited his arrival.
In a speech to the Irish Parliament, President Biden declared "I'm home" and issued a warning to the UK about working more closely with Ireland for peace deals.